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1 Corinthians 12-14
New American Standard Bible

The Use of Spiritual Gifts

12 Now concerning (A)spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, (B)I do not want you to be unaware. 2 (C)You know that when you were [a]pagans, you were (D)led [b]astray to the (E)mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking [c](F)by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is [d](G)accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is (H)Lord,” except [e](I)by the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are (J)varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same (K)God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit (L)for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of (M)wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of (N)knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another (O)faith [f]by the same Spirit, and to another (P)gifts of [g]healing [h]by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the [i]effecting of [j](Q)miracles, and to another (R)prophecy, and to another the [k](S)distinguishing of spirits, to another various (T)kinds of tongues, and to another the (U)interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, (V)distributing to each one individually just as He [l]wills.

12 For just (W)as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, (X)so also is Christ. 13 For [m](Y)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether (Z)Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to (AA)drink of one Spirit.

14 For (AB)the body is not one part, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason [n]any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason [o]any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has (AC)arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, (AD)just as He desired. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 But now (AE)there are many parts, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again, the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, [p]it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those parts of the body which we [q]consider less honorable, [r]on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable parts have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked, 25 so that there may be no [s]division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is [t]honored, all the parts rejoice with it.

27 Now you are (AF)Christ’s body, and (AG)individually parts of it. 28 And God has [u](AH)appointed in (AI)the church, first (AJ)apostles, second (AK)prophets, third (AL)teachers, then [v](AM)miracles, then (AN)gifts of healings, helps, (AO)administrations, and various (AP)kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of [w]miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not (AQ)interpret, do they? 31 But (AR)earnestly desire the greater gifts.

And yet, I am going to show you a far better way.

The Excellence of Love

13 If I speak with the (AS)tongues of mankind and of (AT)angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a (AU)clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of (AV)prophecy and know all (AW)mysteries and all (AX)knowledge, and if I have (AY)all faith so as to (AZ)remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I (BA)give away all my possessions to charity, and if I (BB)surrender my body so that I may [x]glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.

4 Love (BC)is patient, love is kind, it (BD)is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not (BE)arrogant. 5 It does not act disgracefully, it (BF)does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, (BG)does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, 6 (BH)it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but (BI)rejoices with the truth; 7 it [y](BJ)keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of [z](BK)prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are (BL)tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we (BM)know in part and prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I [aa]became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we (BN)see in a mirror [ab]dimly, but then (BO)face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also (BP)have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the [ac]greatest of these is (BQ)love.

Prophecy a Superior Gift

14 (BR)Pursue love, yet earnestly (BS)desire (BT)spiritual gifts, but especially that you may (BU)prophesy. 2 For the one who (BV)speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one [ad]understands, but [ae]in his spirit he speaks (BW)mysteries. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for (BX)edification, [af](BY)exhortation, and consolation. 4 The one who (BZ)speaks in a tongue (CA)edifies himself; but the one who (CB)prophesies (CC)edifies the church. 5 Now I wish that you all (CD)spoke in tongues, but (CE)rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who (CF)speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive (CG)edification.

6 But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of (CH)revelation, or of (CI)knowledge, or of (CJ)prophecy, or of (CK)teaching? 7 Yet even lifeless instruments, whether flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? 8 For if (CL)the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9 So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be (CM)talking to the air. 10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of [ag]languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning. 11 So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be (CN)unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible [ah]to me. 12 So you too, since you are eager to possess [ai]spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the (CO)edification of the church.

13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. 15 (CP)What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will (CQ)sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also. 16 For otherwise, if you bless God [aj]in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the [ak]outsider know to say (CR)the “Amen” at your (CS)giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not (CT)edified. 18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19 nevertheless, in church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Instruction for the Church

20 (CU)Brothers and sisters, (CV)do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil (CW)be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In (CX)the [al]Law it is written: “(CY)By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord. 22 So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but (CZ)prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and [am]outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that (DA)you are insane? 24 But if all (DB)prophesy, and an unbeliever or an [an]outsider enters, he is (DC)convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25 (DD)the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will (DE)fall on his face and worship God, (DF)declaring that God is certainly among you.

26 (DG)What is the outcome then, (DH)brothers and sisters? When you assemble, (DI)each one has a (DJ)psalm, has a (DK)teaching, has a (DL)revelation, has a (DM)tongue, has an (DN)interpretation. (DO)All things are to be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a (DP)tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to (DQ)interpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God. 29 Have two or three (DR)prophets speak, and have the others (DS)pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be [ao]exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not a God of (DT)confusion, but of peace.

As in (DU)all the churches of the [ap](DV)saints, 34 the women are to (DW)keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but (DX)are to subject themselves, just as (DY)the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is [aq]improper for a woman to speak in church. 36 Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only?

37 (DZ)If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or (EA)spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you (EB)are the Lord’s commandment. 38 But if anyone does not recognize this, [ar]he is not recognized.

39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, (EC)earnestly desire to (ED)prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But (EE)all things must be done properly and in an orderly way.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:2 Lit Gentiles; i.e., mainly Greeks and Romans, traditionally polytheistic
  2. 1 Corinthians 12:2 Or away
  3. 1 Corinthians 12:3 Or in
  4. 1 Corinthians 12:3 Gr anathema
  5. 1 Corinthians 12:3 Or in
  6. 1 Corinthians 12:9 Or in
  7. 1 Corinthians 12:9 Lit healings
  8. 1 Corinthians 12:9 Or in
  9. 1 Corinthians 12:10 Lit effects
  10. 1 Corinthians 12:10 Or works of power
  11. 1 Corinthians 12:10 Lit distinguishings
  12. 1 Corinthians 12:11 Or intends
  13. 1 Corinthians 12:13 Or in
  14. 1 Corinthians 12:15 Lit not a part
  15. 1 Corinthians 12:16 Lit not a part
  16. 1 Corinthians 12:22 Lit to a much greater degree the parts
  17. 1 Corinthians 12:23 Or think to be
  18. 1 Corinthians 12:23 Or these we clothe with
  19. 1 Corinthians 12:25 Or dissension
  20. 1 Corinthians 12:26 Lit glorified
  21. 1 Corinthians 12:28 Lit set some in
  22. 1 Corinthians 12:28 Or works of power
  23. 1 Corinthians 12:29 Or works of power
  24. 1 Corinthians 13:3 I.e., in martyrdom
  25. 1 Corinthians 13:7 Lit covers all things
  26. 1 Corinthians 13:8 Lit prophecies
  27. 1 Corinthians 13:11 Lit have become...have done away with
  28. 1 Corinthians 13:12 Lit in a riddle
  29. 1 Corinthians 13:13 Lit greater
  30. 1 Corinthians 14:2 Lit hears
  31. 1 Corinthians 14:2 Or by the Spirit
  32. 1 Corinthians 14:3 Or encouragement
  33. 1 Corinthians 14:10 Lit voices
  34. 1 Corinthians 14:11 Or in my estimation
  35. 1 Corinthians 14:12 Lit spirits
  36. 1 Corinthians 14:16 Or with the
  37. 1 Corinthians 14:16 Lit private person
  38. 1 Corinthians 14:21 I.e., Old Testament, Isaiah
  39. 1 Corinthians 14:23 See note 2 v 16
  40. 1 Corinthians 14:24 See note 2 v 16
  41. 1 Corinthians 14:31 Or encouraged
  42. 1 Corinthians 14:33 I.e., God’s people
  43. 1 Corinthians 14:35 Or disgraceful
  44. 1 Corinthians 14:38 Two early mss let him continue not to recognize it
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1 Corinthians 12-14
New International Version

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit,(A) brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.(B) 2 You know that when you were pagans,(C) somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.(D) 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,”(E) and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,”(F) except by the Holy Spirit.(G)

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit(H) distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone(I) it is the same God(J) at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.(K) 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom,(L) to another a message of knowledge(M) by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith(N) by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing(O) by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers,(P) to another prophecy,(Q) to another distinguishing between spirits,(R) to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a](S) and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,(T) and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Unity and Diversity in the Body

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,(U) so it is with Christ.(V) 13 For we were all baptized(W) by[c] one Spirit(X) so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free(Y)—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.(Z) 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.(AA)

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed(AB) the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.(AC) 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.(AD)

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ,(AE) and each one of you is a part of it.(AF) 28 And God has placed in the church(AG) first of all apostles,(AH) second prophets,(AI) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,(AJ) of helping, of guidance,(AK) and of different kinds of tongues.(AL) 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]?(AM) Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire(AN) the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

13 If I speak in the tongues[e](AO) of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy(AP) and can fathom all mysteries(AQ) and all knowledge,(AR) and if I have a faith(AS) that can move mountains,(AT) but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor(AU) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[f](AV) but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient,(AW) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.(AX) 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,(AY) it is not easily angered,(AZ) it keeps no record of wrongs.(BA) 6 Love does not delight in evil(BB) but rejoices with the truth.(BC) 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.(BD)

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,(BE) they will cease; where there are tongues,(BF) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part(BG) and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes,(BH) what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood(BI) behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;(BJ) then we shall see face to face.(BK) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.(BL)

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.(BM) But the greatest of these is love.(BN)

Intelligibility in Worship

14 Follow the way of love(BO) and eagerly desire(BP) gifts of the Spirit,(BQ) especially prophecy.(BR) 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue[g](BS) does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them;(BT) they utter mysteries(BU) by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,(BV) encouraging(BW) and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue(BX) edifies(BY) themselves, but the one who prophesies(BZ) edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[h] but I would rather have you prophesy.(CA) The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,[i] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.(CB)

6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation(CC) or knowledge(CD) or prophecy or word of instruction?(CE) 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?(CF) 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.(CG) 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit,(CH) try to excel in those that build up(CI) the church.

13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.(CJ) 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,(CK) but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,(CL) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing(CM) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,[j] say “Amen”(CN) to your thanksgiving,(CO) since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.(CP)

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.(CQ)

20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.(CR) In regard to evil be infants,(CS) but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law(CT) it is written:

“With other tongues
    and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
    but even then they will not listen to me,(CU)
says the Lord.”[k]

22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,(CV) however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?(CW) 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets(CX) of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”(CY)

Good Order in Worship

26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters?(CZ) When you come together, each of you(DA) has a hymn,(DB) or a word of instruction,(DC) a revelation, a tongue(DD) or an interpretation.(DE) Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.(DF) 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

29 Two or three prophets(DG) should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.(DH) 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.(DI) 33 For God is not a God of disorder(DJ) but of peace(DK)—as in all the congregations(DL) of the Lord’s people.(DM)

34 Women[l] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,(DN) but must be in submission,(DO) as the law(DP) says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.[m]

36 Or did the word of God(DQ) originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet(DR) or otherwise gifted by the Spirit,(DS) let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.(DT) 38 But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.[n]

39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager(DU) to prophesy,(DV) and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly(DW) way.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:10 Or languages; also in verse 28
  2. 1 Corinthians 12:10 Or languages; also in verse 28
  3. 1 Corinthians 12:13 Or with; or in
  4. 1 Corinthians 12:30 Or other languages
  5. 1 Corinthians 13:1 Or languages
  6. 1 Corinthians 13:3 Some manuscripts body to the flames
  7. 1 Corinthians 14:2 Or in another language; also in verses 4, 13, 14, 19, 26 and 27
  8. 1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
  9. 1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
  10. 1 Corinthians 14:16 The Greek word for inquirer is a technical term for someone not fully initiated into a religion; also in verses 23 and 24.
  11. 1 Corinthians 14:21 Isaiah 28:11,12
  12. 1 Corinthians 14:34 Or peace. As in all the congregations of the Lord’s people, 34 women
  13. 1 Corinthians 14:35 In a few manuscripts these verses come after verse 40.
  14. 1 Corinthians 14:38 Some manuscripts But anyone who is ignorant of this will be ignorant
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